Episode 21: Some hot-blooded people have arrived

"...To think it would amount to anything like this. It's nothing worth mentioning."

　There were three people there wearing red robes.

　Looking down at Uta, who was engulfed in flames and had fallen, the man... the "Red Fire", the No. 2 of "Flare's Hands", snorted.

　Behind them were the figures of "Green Fire" and "White Fire", standing with their hoods pulled down over their eyes.

"We have to march out against such lowly opponents...King Fafnir, you're making good use of me."

"I heard that you defeated the castle's soldiers... but it wasn't a big deal. The only notable ability is the teleportation ability, I guess?"

　"Green Fire" sneered lightly.

『Red Fire』 nodded, his lips curling into a crescent shape in disdain.

"With the power of 'Green Fire', there is nothing to fear from that teleportation. The enemy of God was able to die from my fire. I want him to be grateful."

　Looking down at Uta, the three members of the Temple of Fire's assassination squad... the Hands of Flare grinned.

　They discovered that Uta had stopped in the village and burned it down.

　Later, he heard from the surviving villagers that Uta had gone into the forest to rescue some girls who had been kidnapped by the orcs, so he lay in wait for them.

　There was no deep reason for burning the village.

　If I had to say one reason, it would be for purification.

　The entire village was wiped out to punish the sin of hosting the enemy of the gods.

"Anyway, mission accomplished. Return to the temple."

"Before that, why don't we burn those women over there as well?"

"Green Fire" spoke with a smile on his face.

"A woman is most beautiful when she is burning. Let's turn these women into beautiful flames."

"Do as you please."

　The commander, 『Red Flame』, spat it out without a care in the world.

"A woman tainted by a monster has no worth living. Have mercy on her and burn her."

"Yes, sir."

　Obtaining his boss's approval, Green Fire grinned.

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"It's mercy. It's mercy. So don't resent it.... give thanks to God."

"Green Fire" raised his hand, preparing to activate a spell.

　However, before the concentrated flame could be released from his hand, a quiet voice rang out.

"Yeah, I don't know."

"Wha...?"

Green Fire leapt aside.

　The other two members of Flare's Hands also became wary.

"I don't know. I have no idea."

　Uta, who had been stabbed in the head and whose body was supposed to have been burned, stood up.

　The carbonized body returns to its original shape as if rotating in reverse.

　The knife that had been stuck in his head falls out and onto the ground.

"I don't understand... why did you guys do this?"

"...Why is he still alive? I'm sure I killed him."

"It's not nice to answer a question with a question. Didn't you guys learn that from Puppy and Mummy?"

　Uta tilts his head.

　This is not a provocation. It is a genuine question.

"How could someone do something so cruel? What grudge do you have?"

"...are you talking about these villagers?"

『Red Flame』 held a knife in both hands and gave a wink to the two subordinates behind him.

　The two of them nodded silently and got into fighting stances.

"The people of this village let you, the enemy of God, stay at their inn and hide you. It is only natural that you be killed."

"I haven't heard anything about that."

　Uta frowned and pointed to one of the burnt buildings... the remains of what used to be the inn where he'd been staying.

"Tonight's dinner was beef stew! How could you do such a cruel thing to beef stew!"

"teeth…oooo…?"

"Thanks to you guys, I can't eat beef stew anymore! Apologize to beef stew!"

　It was a rare moment for Uta to show anger, but when he was questioned, the three members of "Flare's Hands" looked as if they didn't understand what he was saying.

　I had thought for sure that I was being blamed for the massacre of innocent villagers.

　However, the only thing that Uta is upset about is that he can no longer eat beef stew for dinner.

　He didn't care that every last villager had been killed.

“…We’re crazy too, but this guy is totally crazy.”

"…………"

Green Fire muttered.

　The "White Fire" next to him was silent, but his face was grimacing beneath his hood.

"...It seems it's unreasonable to expect normal sensibilities from an enemy of god."

Red Fire ignores what he has done and looks at something filthy.

"You can't blame King Fafnir... This man is a target that we must kill. He is a plague on the world that cannot be allowed to live."

"No, that doesn't matter, I'll have some beef stew..."

"Do it."

『Red Fire』 gave the signal.

　Immediately afterwards, a green flame erupted behind Uta.

"Whoa!"

　Uta is blown forward.

　As Uta leaned forward, "Red Flame" unleashed a slash with his knife.

"Hmph!"

"I don't like knives."

　Uta teleports.

　He instantly teleported to a place about ten meters away.

"You'll develop a fear of sharp objects. If you get stung that many times..."

"Explosion"

"Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh."

　Uta is once again engulfed in green flames.

　Flames appeared out of nowhere and burned Uta without him having time to dodge.

　This is the ability of ``Green Fire''... ``Transfer Flame''.

"Green Fire" is a wizard skilled in spatial magic, and can only transport the flames he emits.

　In addition, by sensing fluctuations in space, he can also tell where Uta will be teleported to.

　The reason why the surprise attack was successful when he teleported to the village was because he sensed the fluctuation of the teleport.

"Ugh... it's hot, why would you do something so cruel?"

　However, Uta, burned by the green flames, only grimaced slightly.

　Even burn scars and scorched clothes will return to normal.

"People who do such horrible things need to be punished."

　Uta teleports and moves behind the Green Fire.

　He touched his shoulder and tried to turn him into dust, but the "Green Fire" was transferred as well and disappeared.

"Huh?"

"You're missing the mark, fool."

"Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh."

　A bright red flame attacks Uta.

　The whole body is burned and carbonized in an instant.

"This time I won't give you time to heal! I'll burn you to death!"

The ability of "Red Fire" is pure high firepower. Pure flames of destruction.

　His offensive power was simply extraordinary, and he could manipulate fire with enough heat to melt even mithril, the hardest metal in the world.

　In front of that flame, a single human being is nothing more than a scrap of paper.

　He would not have been able to last even a second and would have been killed.

"Wow. It's hot. It's so hot. It's like a sauna."

　However, even though Uta is being burned by the flames, he shows no signs of dying.

　It seemed to be working somewhat, and he was speaking in a panic, but the speed at which his body was healing was exceeding the speed at which it was burning.

"This is tough. I want to take a cold bath."

"Why won't you die... this brat...!"

"Hmmm... I need to get serious about this, don't I? If I keep going like this, I'll end up in a mess."

　As Uta was burned by the red flames, he gave himself a slight pump and said, "All right!"

"I don't know why I'm being attacked, but... I want revenge for Beef Stew! I'm going to get a little serious!"

　Making the declaration in a very light-hearted manner, Uta recognized the three people before him as enemies.